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Glen Casada, R-Franklin, talks with Former Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, before the House of Representatives opening day of the 111th General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Legislative member Yusuf Hakeem, D-District 28, Sandra Charles, and Addison Bone have their photograph taken before the start of the opening day of the 111th General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Outgoing House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, left, receives a kiss from newly elected House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, after Harrell handed him the gavel on the opening day of the 111th General Assembly Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Former House Speaker Beth Harwell cries as she receives a standing ovation from her colleagues and newly elected House Speaker Glen Casada during the opening day of the 111th General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville. Harwell made history eight years ago as the state’s first female speaker of the House. Mark Zaleski/For The Tennessean

Madelyn Hicks, 3, daughter of legislative member, Gary Hick, plays with her cell phone before the start of the House of Representatives opening day of the 111th General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Legislative members stand with their families as they recite the Pledge of Allegiance during the House of Representatives opening day of the 111th General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Glen Casada, R-Franklin, is greeted as he walks to the podium after being elected as House Speaker during the 111th General Assembly on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn.
Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, left, is sworn in by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins, second from right, on the opening day of the 111th General Assembly Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Holding the Bible for Casada is his mother, Karen, and standing to far right is his his father, Dick Casada. Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Newly elected House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, hugs his parents Karen, left, Dick, after being sworn in by Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Jeff Bivins on the opening day of the 111th General Assembly Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Flowers for Former Speaker of the House Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, rest on a bench during the House of Representatives opening day of the 111th General Assembly, Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

Outgoing House Speaker Beth Harwell, R-Nashville, left, hands the gavel over to newly elected House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, on the opening day of the 111th General Assembly Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019, in Nashville, Tenn. Mark Zaleski/ For the Tennessean

A freshman Republican lawmaker is hoping to bolster Tennessee's so-called "stand your ground" law, which provides protections to residents who use deadly force in cases of self-defense.

Rep. Bruce Griffey, R-Paris, introduced a measure Thursday that would give criminal and civil immunity to people who justifiably use or threaten to use force.

The legislation, HB 409, would bring Tennessee, which already has a "stand your ground" law, more in line with other states, such as Florida. More than two dozen states have some form of the law, according to 2018 data maintained by the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Griffey's legislation would not apply to anyone who would use or threaten to use force against law enforcement officials.

The measure is one that Second Amendment organizations have long advocated for.

In December 2016, John Harris, executive director of the Tennessee Firearms Association, said the state's self-defense immunity laws were in need of change.

"In Tennessee, the idea of 'self-defense' is a technical defense that must be raised to a criminal charge of illegal use of force," he said. "That means, if you are forced to use a firearm to defend your family, you can still be arrested, criminally prosecuted and forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars in attorney's fees just to prove that it was a justifiable self-defense shooting."

Griffey's bill would effectively eliminate that.

Beth Joslin Roth, policy director of the Safe Tennessee project, said the legislation would effectively allow anyone in Tennessee to shoot someone they didn't like and claim self defense without providing much evidence.

Similar measure failed in 2017

During the 2017 legislative session, Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, and Sen. Kerry Roberts, R-Springfield, introduced a measure similar to Griffey's.

Prior to the introduction of the 2017 bill, then-House Majority Leader Glen Casada, R-Franklin, praised the state's current law.

"We've got a good 'stand your ground' law," Casada said at the time. "I would be curious what needs to be addressed there."

When asked about the newly filed measure, Casada, now the House speaker, said in a statement Friday, "This is why we have a strong committee system in place — to make good bills like this even better."

"I trust the chairmen and members of our committees that will see this legislation to dive deep into the issue and come up with the policy that’s best for all Tennesseans,” he said.

The 2017 bill by Holt and Roberts ultimately failed to advance through the legislature.

But with several new committee chairmen, including Rep. Micah Van Huss, R-Jonesborough, who presides over the House Constitutional Protections and Sentencing Subcommittee, Griffey's proposal likely stands a better chance of advancing this year.

Van Huss has long been an advocate for changing the state's gun laws, including sponsoring a bill during the 2017 session that would have allowed almost anyone in Tennessee to legally carry a firearm.

In a Tuesday email to TFA's mailing list, Harris touted Van Huss's committee appointment and previous support for bills the organization supported.

As of publication, Griffey's legislation does not have a Senate sponsor.

Roth, of the Safe Tennessee Project, said the bill would effectively allow a Tennessean to shoot someone, call the cops and say they had to shoot the person because they were threatening.

"That seems kinda crazy," she said. Roth said she understands people have the right to defend themselves but there should be significant evidence that the shooter was in danger in order to justify their actions.

"What’s to keep someone from shooting someone because they don’t like them and then claiming self-defense?" she asked.

CLOSE

There are 32 new lawmakers, including 28 in the state House, this year
Michael Schwab, Nashville Tennessean

Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.

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